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William Craford (d. by April 15, 1762)

William Craford was the founder of Portsmouth. Little is known about his personal life,
but in 1716 he patented more than 1,100 acres of land in Norfolk County across the Elizabeth River from the port of Norfolk. He co-owned a mill and
constructed a wharf in the county, where he was appointed a sheriff in 1725 and
commander of the militia in 1748. Craford sat as a member of the House of Burgesses for more than
thirty years, beginning 1712. Early in the 1750s he hired a surveyor to lay off the
land that he had acquired in 1716 into streets and lots. Probably at his request, in
the spring of 1752 the General
Assembly established the town of Portsmouth there, and in the summer of that
year he began selling lots. Craford had died, probably in Portsmouth, by April 15,
1762, when his will was proved in the Norfolk County Court. MORE...

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Craford was the son of George Craford and Abigail Mason Craford. Contemporaries
sometimes spelled the family name Crawford, but several extant autograph signatures
and many transcriptions of it in Norfolk County records indicate that he consistently
used the spelling Craford. The place and date of his birth are not known for certain,
but probably he was born in Virginia in the 1680s and was orphaned early in
childhood. Craford and his sister were both younger than eighteen when in September
1699 their immigrant grandfather, who owned land in Norfolk and Princess Anne Counties and
also in North Carolina, wrote his will and made them his principal heirs.

Little is known about Craford's personal life. There is no evidence that he ever
married, but during the 1710s he cared for his paternal grandmother during her second
widowhood. In the spring of 1711 he patented 173 acres of land in Nansemond County, and on
October 31, 1716, he patented 1,129 acres in Norfolk County across the Elizabeth
River from the port of Norfolk, land that had once belonged to William Carver, who had been
executed in 1676 for his part in Bacon's Rebellion (1676–1677). Craford was a partner in erecting and operating a mill
in Norfolk County, constructed a wharf for the county, and probably planted tobacco and engaged in trade. He recorded at least one
deed of sale for an enslaved
woman and her children, but it is not certain whether he regularly traded in
laborers, either free or enslaved. Craford was almost certainly a member of the
county court for several years before the governor appointed him sheriff of the county
on May 4, 1725. He had become a colonel of militia by 1742 and was county lieutenant,
or commander of the county's militia, in 1748.

First elected to the House of Burgesses representing Norfolk County in 1712, Craford
served with one interruption for more than thirty years. He gave up his seat in the
summer of 1734 after becoming county sheriff for the second time in a decade but was
reelected to the House the following year. His name appears in the journals of the
session that met early in 1746, but it is not clear whether he took part in the
summer session of that year or the session of the following spring, as he was
eligible to do. Craford sat on the Committee of Claims in 1723 and again in 1744 and
1746, and twice he served on the committee that drafted the reply of the House to the
governor's message. He did not become a powerful legislative leader during his many
years as a burgess, however. One of the last responsibilities that he shouldered as a
member of the assembly was as a manager of a £600 fund that the legislature set aside
early in 1746 to support British soldiers whose ship had blown into Virginia waters
while en route to Cape Breton.

Early in the 1750s Craford hired a surveyor to lay off the land that he had acquired
in 1716 into streets and lots. Probably at his request, in the spring of 1752 the
General Assembly established the town of Portsmouth there, and in the summer of that
year he began selling lots. Craford prepared to erect a market and a new courthouse
for the county in Portsmouth, but during his lifetime the courthouse remained in the
borough of Norfolk. He was in poor health when he wrote his will on January 27, 1762.
He bequeathed part of his property to his sister and portions to members of the Dale
and Veale families; he singled out the children of his late housekeeper, Mary Veale,
for special favors. Craford died, probably in Portsmouth, sometime before April 15,
1762, when his will was proved in the Norfolk County Court. The place of his burial
is not known.

Time Line

September 1699
- William Craford and his sister, both younger than eighteen, are made principal heirs to their grandfather's estate. Their grandfather owns land in Norfolk and Princess Anne Counties and also in North Carolina.

Spring 1711
- William Craford patents 173 acres of land in Nansemond County.

1712
- William Craford is elected to the House of Burgesses representing Norfolk County.

October 31, 1716
- William Craford patents 1,129 acres in Norfolk County across the Elizabeth River from the port of Norfolk.

May 4, 1725
- William Craford is appointed sheriff of Norfolk County.

Summer 1734
- William Craford gives up his seat in the House of Burgesses after becoming sheriff of Norfolk County for the second time.

1735
- William Craford is reelected to the House of Burgesses.

1742
- By this year, William Craford is a colonel of militia in Norfolk County.

1746
- William Craford serves as manager of a £600 fund that the House of Burgesses has set aside early in the year to support British soldiers whose ship blew into Virginia waters while en route to Cape Breton.

1748
- William Craford becomes commander of the Norfolk County militia.

1752
- Probably at William Craford's request, the General Assembly establishes the town of Portsmouth on land owned by Craford. During the summer, Craford begins selling lots.

January 27, 1762
- In poor health, William Craford writes his will. He bequeaths part of his property to his sister and portions to members of the Dale and Veale families.

April 15, 1762
- The will of William Craford is proved in the Norfolk County Court. The place of his burial is not known.